Chicago's First Cider House Eyeballing Irving Park, Community Forum Set

OLD IRVING PARK — Already home to dozens of craft breweries and a handful of small independent distillers, Chicago is about to hit the alcoholic beverage trifecta with the announcement of a proposal for the city's first cider house.

Residents will get a glimpse of plans for Eris Brewery and Cider House at a community forum set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, hosted by Ald. John Arena (45th).

Eris will be producing both beer and cider on site, according to Michelle Foik, one-half of the venture's ownership team, along with business partner Katy Pizza.

Foik is a veteran of Goose Island and Virtue Cider; Pizza's husband owns a stake in Revolution Brewing and Hop Head Farms.

The cider house aims to take over the Korean Bethel Presbyterian Church, formerly a Masonic Temple, at 4240 W. Irving Park Rd. The church is selling the property.

"The building itself is amazing," Foik told DNAinfo Chicago via email. "The location is longing for more family restaurants and community gathering places."

Access to the Kennedy Expressway, CTA Blue Line, Metra and Irving Park bus "couldn't be more perfect," she added.

To support the cider house, Arena first had to lift a packaged goods liquor license moratorium, and state legislators had to amend the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934, according to a statement from the alderman's office.

The amendment was necessary in order to permit the sale of alcohol within proximity of a church — Harvest Christian Center at 4020 N. Tripp Ave.

The community meeting will take place at Irving Park Baptist Church, 4401 W. Irving Park Rd.

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